\n
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) \u2014 Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are three wins away from the MLS Cup title.<\/p>\n
Messi led the way with two first-half goals and added two assists as third-seeded Inter Miami defeated sixth-seeded Nashville SC 4-0 on Saturday night in the decisive Game 3 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoff series.<\/p>\n
Tadeo Allende scored two goals about three minutes apart in the second half (both goals scored by Messi), and Inter Miami sparked the game, defeating Nashville 8-3 in the series. Messi had a hand<\/span> He scored five of those goals and assisted on the remaining three.<\/p>\nInter Miami will face FC Cincinnati in the East semifinals on November 22nd or November 23rd. Unlike the best-of-three format in the first round, all matches are now single-elimination format. Cincinnati is 1-0-1 against Inter Miami this season, winning 3-0 at home on July 16th and then playing to a scoreless draw at Fort Lauderdale on July 26th. Messi was in the squad for the first match. But not the second.<\/p>\n
“We know that Cincinnati will be a tough test,” Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba – who will retire at the end of the playoffs – said after playing his 100th game for the club.<\/p>\n
Messi is the favorite to win the MLS MVP award for the second consecutive year, and if he wins, he would become the first player in league history to win the award consecutively. He also won the Golden Boot Award.<\/span> As MLS’ top scorer this season, Signed a new 3-year contract<\/span> He is expected to remain at the club until 2028 and appears to be playing his best football at the perfect time for Inter Miami.<\/p>\nThis is the first time Inter Miami has made it this far in the MLS playoffs. South Florida’s MLS predecessor, the Miami Fusion, reached the league semifinals in its final season in 2001, but this is new territory for Inter Miami.<\/p>\n
A year ago, during Messi’s full season with the club, they lost the third leg of the first leg at home to Atlanta as Supporters’ Shield winners.<\/p>\n
Not this time. Messi noticed this.<\/p>\n
Surrounded by four Nashville defenders, Messi scored from the top of the 18-yard box in the 10th minute for a 1-0 lead. And the second goal was from almost the same spot, but much easier.<\/p>\n
Matteo Silvetti controlled a long pass, evading Nashville defenders and drawing the attention of goaltender Joe Willis. Silvetti pushed the ball towards Messi, but Messi could only shoot into an empty net in the 39th minute, giving them a 2-0 lead.<\/p>\n
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said, “I can say that the team played a near-perfect game through defense, midfield and attack.”<\/p>\n
Inter Miami is 19-2-3 in MLS this season when scoring at least two goals, but Nashville let the Herons score this goal.<\/p>\n
Regardless, it looked like Nashville had cut the lead in half in the opening minutes of the second half, but during the play Sam Surridge’s leg tangled with Inter Miami’s Maxi Falcon and a foul was called, so his shot on goal was whistled and nullified.<\/p>\n
The winner of Inter Miami vs. Cincinnati will face either top-seeded Philadelphia Union or fifth-seeded NYCFC in the East final. The MLS Cup Final is scheduled for December 6th, with either Philadelphia, Cincinnati or Inter Miami playing at the host site if they advance to the title game.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP Soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/soccer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
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